Celeste Adams became Director of the Grand Rapids Art Museum in 1997. During her thirteen years as Director, she has led the Art Museum through an extraordinary era of growth and transformation and achieved major goals for the institution including landmark exhibitions, important acquisitions of art, and a successful $83 million capital campaign that produced a nationally recognized new Art Museum facility with expanded endowment. Photo: Dianne Carroll Burdick.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI.- Today Celeste Adams shared with the Grand Rapids Art Museum Board of Trustees her decision to resign her position as Museum Director effective March 17, 2010, her thirteenth anniversary as Director. She stated, I have completed my work here and the time is right for me to move on to a new challenge and for the Museum to move into a new era of life. Ms. Adams will assist with the transition, serving as Consulting Director from March 2010 to March 2011 or until a new Director begins.

Celeste Adams became Director of the Grand Rapids Art Museum in 1997. During her thirteen years as Director, she has led the Art Museum through an extraordinary era of growth and transformation and achieved major goals for the institution including landmark exhibitions, important acquisitions of art, and a successful $83 million capital campaign that produced a nationally recognized new Art Museum facility with expanded endowment.

Scott Wierda, Board President stated, The Museum is deeply grateful to Celeste for thirteen years of selfless dedication and exceptional service. She has completed the monumental challenge of getting the new Museum built, handling the transition and move into the building, and opening the facility with a very successful schedule of programs. As we move into a transition phase, we continue to value Celestes wisdom and experience and look to her ongoing counsel as we prepare for a new era. Mr. Wierda indicated that the Museum Board will begin a national search for a new Director in the coming weeks.